Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-01-21

have become started, perhaps 10y spon
tdneOus combustion, among the paints
and oils IN Mr.. Struug's cellar. How the
IRE S'HGcd vii probably always remain
a ma'tor Of conjecture.
HISTORY OF sTRoNG's BUILDING.
The old landmark, which is now pile
OF charred timber aud ashes, dates back to
the last century. The original building
was erected for a tavern in l19S, by Lyman
King, who was sheriff of the county. a
jail had been constructed two years before
on the corner of the square, and Mr.. King
built a woodentavern house on the ground
south of the jail and contiguous to it,
Church street had not then been opened
between College and Main streets, and
Mr.. Kings garden extended east of the
house, over what is now Church street.
In lSU2 the jail was separated from the
tavern and removed to its present site
which Mr.. King then owned and conveyed
TO the town. receiving in exchange for 1t
trOui the town, at a rent of a pepper corn
y year perpetually, the land covered by
the tavern, and piece of ground forming
Il part OF the square, on which to erect an
addition thereto. This arrangement was
confirmed by an act of the Legislature in
lSOS. Mr., King proceeded to enlarge his
tavern, which became what was for the
ries with long piazzas across the west
front
Mr.. King subsequently sold the proper
~ to Col. Henry Thomas by whom the
tavern was kept for many years. In the
year 1899 the hotel was purchased by T,
f. aud w. l.. Strong, who cut up
It's lower story into stores and es-
tabllshed in it their own store. Five
or SIX years after they sold portion of it
of about so by 40 feet on the corner to
samuel Huntington, who has since oc-
Cupled 1t with his well-known bookstore.
timothy Strong SOLD out his share to w.
Il. strong, who owned 1t till last summer,
when he conveyed it to the Young Mems
Christian association for $4,000, Mr..
strong contributing $1,000 towards the
purchase. In this purchase the land
was considered to he worth $1,000
to $4,000, and the building $4,000
to $4,000 Including Mr.. lIuntington's
store, the value of the building was about
$4,000. 1t was occupied at the time of
the. fire by a. &. Strong, hardware
and paints >. Huntington a. Co.,
books and stationery W. b. McKil-
lip, groceries l.. a. q a. a. Drew,
meat MAJ ket; II. Meekin, printer; Philip
Barber, barber, and the rooms and hail of
the Young Mems Christian association.
The building had long ceased TO be con-
sldered an ornament to the square and
though Its destruction involves serious
losses to some of the occupants, When as
we trust Will soon be the Case, "A hand
some block rises on this central and prom
luent site, it will be admitted by all that
the fire was a benefit to our city.
a Desoiate Scene Presented by the Ruins
The Loss About $40, 900.
a throng of spectators surrounded the
ruins of the Strong building during the
greater part Of the day Saturday, watch
ing the work of removing the few articles
that had not been destroyed by the flames
Several times the smuuldering embers
burst into flame so that it was deemed
best To keep stream of water PLAYING on
the ruins part of the time. The appear
ance OF the remains OF the building was
dreary enough. The block was large, but
the falling OF some of the timbers outward
spread the scene of deSolation far
beyond the cellar walls. On the entire
west side the destruction of the
building was complete, leaving only a
mass of charred and nearly consumed
tlmherS plled lii utter confusion. The
supports of the second floor on the west
side of lluntingtOn's store We're partially
consumed and their portion of that
floor remains in place. On the east side
OF the building portion of the outer wall
Is standing as high in places as the middle
of the second story, the fire having done
its work more thoroughly as it approached
the Ethans' house so that but little of the
second floor remains at the southeast cor
ner. Careful examination of the Ethans'
building shows that although the west
part OF the north wall Is charret. the build
in2 is but little damaged.
The Safe- in the stores of Mr. Strong
Mr.. McKillip, Huntington & Co., and l..
A, " \. A. Drew having been removed
the previous night, 1t was supposed that
very little of value remained in the ruins
When daylight came, however, it was
found that IA considerable quantity of
goods III the front part of McKllhp's store
were but little damaged, the lot including
quite stock Of canned goods These
were removed to the basement of the City
Hall building. Many cans were
found to be cracked so that the lIquid
portion of their contents escaped
destroying their preservative qualities.
large quantity of writing paper in BOXES
on the last portion of the second floor of
HuntlngtOn's store also escaped destruct-
ion by the flames, but it was so thorough
~ drenched by the water As to be render
ed valueless and was not disturbed
Messrs. Drew moved their meat into the
sample room of the American hotel and
were able to fill their orders without
trouble Saturday morning. Mr. Nc.
his orders through the courtesy
of his brother grocers. He is located in
the City Hall basement second door from
the west, but expects to have store in a
few days, > Huntington d Co., Will open
their store in the old Philharmonic hall.
now the Howard Relief socety's property,
where they Will remain until the first OF
next month. Mr.. Strong and the remain
ing occupants are undecided as to their
future course.
In relation to the losses but little infor-
nation can be given in addition to what
has been published. OF Huntington q
Co ) stock nothing was rescued from
the basement, where their wrapping pa
per states, crayons, etc, We're kept, or
from their wholesale department on the
second lloor. A considerable portion of
the books that We're saved are more or less
damaged by water, so that no idea can be
gained OF their loss until an examination
Is made. They expect to be able to make
an estimate of their loss to-day, when the
insurance adjusters are expected.
The loss falls principally on the com
panes represented by Gen Peek, who
held risk Of so 300 on the y. NJ c. A.
building S,}lllIl StInpn's 81